Pretty Pictures
Aug. 16th, 2011 09:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
xenithI have some pretty pictures. Four large sheets of them (2 of NSW goldfields, 2 of Victoria), originally from the Illustrated London News, which photocopies exceptionally well.
I shall share three.
The Post-Office Sofala
"This rude 'public office' is built with timber uprights and window-bars, and is roofed with sheets of bark."
Dry Diggings on the Turon
The Forest Creek diggings, Mount Alexander, Port Phillip
"The second View affords a truthful idea of the men and scenes to be found at Forest Creek. In the right-hand corner are a couple of the native mounted Police, a corps only attempted to he established within the last twelve months; and who, although useful in hunting down their own refractory people, are most difficult to retain for any length of time in her Majesty's service, owing to their natural love for freedom and dislike to any restraint. These men are now employed with a larger proportion of white Police, keeping order on the ground, and escorting the gold to Melbourne. Beside the Police is a newly-arrived digger, his blanket on his back and his jack knife hanging from his waist, sailor fashion.
"Higher up, two men are bringing down the gold ore from the top of the hill on a hand-barrow. On the brow of the hill are bark huts, or gunyahs, and tents, with fires burning before them. The large tent is the Government Commissioner's, with a sentinel on duty, not only for dignity, but to protect the gold deposited within, to await the escort. The man with the pickaxe is just commencing to sink a pit; while two men, one rough and bearded, are ascending from their deep pits with baskets of the spoil on their heads, which they are conveying to water. Along the banks of the stream the washing process is going on. The first step is, 'to pour the earth into the cradle,' of which two are to be seen at work, one on each side the stream."
I shall share three.
The Post-Office Sofala
"This rude 'public office' is built with timber uprights and window-bars, and is roofed with sheets of bark."
Dry Diggings on the Turon
The Forest Creek diggings, Mount Alexander, Port Phillip
"The second View affords a truthful idea of the men and scenes to be found at Forest Creek. In the right-hand corner are a couple of the native mounted Police, a corps only attempted to he established within the last twelve months; and who, although useful in hunting down their own refractory people, are most difficult to retain for any length of time in her Majesty's service, owing to their natural love for freedom and dislike to any restraint. These men are now employed with a larger proportion of white Police, keeping order on the ground, and escorting the gold to Melbourne. Beside the Police is a newly-arrived digger, his blanket on his back and his jack knife hanging from his waist, sailor fashion.
"Higher up, two men are bringing down the gold ore from the top of the hill on a hand-barrow. On the brow of the hill are bark huts, or gunyahs, and tents, with fires burning before them. The large tent is the Government Commissioner's, with a sentinel on duty, not only for dignity, but to protect the gold deposited within, to await the escort. The man with the pickaxe is just commencing to sink a pit; while two men, one rough and bearded, are ascending from their deep pits with baskets of the spoil on their heads, which they are conveying to water. Along the banks of the stream the washing process is going on. The first step is, 'to pour the earth into the cradle,' of which two are to be seen at work, one on each side the stream."
